Lines 27–28. Variant translations:
• Perhaps we know to tell many fictions like to truths, and we know, when we will, to speak what is true.
• We know how to tell many lies that pass for truth, and we know, when we wish, to tell the truth itself.
• Perhaps we know to tell many fictions like to truths, and we know, when we will, to speak what is true.
• We know how to tell many lies that pass for truth, and we know, when we wish, to tell the truth itself.
“
We know how to speak many falsehoods which resemble real things, but we know, when we will, how to speak true things.
— Hesiod
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "We know how to speak many falsehoods which resemble real things, but we know, when we will, how to speak true things." in the context of "Lines 27–28. Variant translations:
• Perhaps we know to tell many fictions like to truths, and we know, when we will, to speak what is true.
• We know how to tell many lies that pass for truth, and we know, when we wish, to tell the truth itself." to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Hesiod" (Quotes, Theogony (c. 700 BC))
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
About Hesiod
Hesiod (Ἡσίοδος Hēsíodos) was an early Greek poet, believed to have lived around the year 700 BC.
About Hesiod
Hesiod (Ἡσίοδος Hēsíodos) was an early Greek poet, believed to have lived around the year 700 BC.
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